Construction for drying walls and neutralizing saltpeter therein.



PATENTED JULY 16, 1907.

M. LESER. GONSTRUGTION FOR DRYING'WALLS AND NEUTRALIZING SALTPETER 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

THERBIN. APPLIOATIOKIILED AUG. 1G. 1906.

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mw Z THE NURRIS PETERS Co., WSHINCTON. n, C-

PATBNTED 1111.116, 1997.

M. LESER. CONSTRUCTION POR DRYING WALLS AND NEUTRALIZING SALTPETER THEREI'N. APPLIoTIoN FILED 11119.16. 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

1HE NoRRls Psrsns cu., wAsHmaoN, n. c.

`MAX LESER, OF MUNICH, GERMANY.

CONSTRUCTION FOR DRYINGFWALLS AND NEUTRALIZING SALTPETER THEREIN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 16 1907.

Application filed August 16, 1906. Serial No. 330,930.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MAX Lnsnn, a subject of the King of Bavaria, residing at Munich, Bavaria, Ahave invented a certain new and useful Construction for the 4Drying of Walls and Neutralizing Saltpeter Therein,

of which the following is a specification.

e Various attempts have been made to secure the dryness of damp walls, for instance means of insulating layers or split pipes arranged for the purpose of conducting away the moisture, and by means of air-passages provided between the wallsand the soil. These devices do not, however, afford a radical and permanent remedy for dampness, more particularly in the winter, and they are totally unadapted to remove socallec rot and saltpeter. The present invention, on the other hand, affords a highly effective remedy by means of which walls can not only be rendered permanently and completely dry, but by which rot is also completely eradicated. This iseffecte'd with the aid of air-conduits, but the action of the latter is assisted by special means, by which an electrical effect is produced. For this purpose the air-conduits are constructed of metal, and wire of a different metal is wound around the said conduits. By this means cataphoretic and chemical action is produced, owing to the electric currents which are generated, more particularly in the presence of moisture, and the drying of the walls is thus accelerated.

The invention is illustrated in the annexed drawing, in which Figure l represents a wall in which several examples of the improved system are combined. Fig. 2 is a cross-section of a wall, viewed from above, and Fig` 3 a vertical section. Fig. 4 illustrates part of the construction on a larger scale.

The construction comprises a system of half open shallow troughs a of light sheet-metal, preferably zinc of any suitable shape of cross section adapted to be placed against the surface of a wall with their open faces against the latter.

Referring to Fig. 4, it will be seen that wire b preferably of copper is twisted or Wound round the troughs a; for this purpose a net-Work of wire may be prepared before it is placed on the troughs, or the wire may be merely wound round the latter.

At suitable parts of the trough-system air-inlet apertures c are provided, for example in the form of ornamental gratings or perforated plates. `By this means a continuous and energetic circulation of air is obtained, extending down to the base of the wall. The wire b is preferably of copper, and the gratings, plates or the like at the air-inlet apertures are preferably of the same metal, or else a net-work of copper-Wire is placed behind each inlet-aperture or group of apertures and connected to the adjacent copper wire b.

The'wire b and troughs a arranged in the manner described serve a double purpose. They assist in retaining and supportingthe plaster with which the wall is coated, and being of different metals produce moreover cataphoretic and electro-chemical effects on the wall and plaster. This latter results is dueto galvanoelectric action, which is for example, sufficient to prevent the formation of hear-frost and the freezing of moisture in the troughs in winter, and the chemical effects of which so assistthe drying process that practically any damp wall, can by the means indicated be rendered perfectly dry in its entire thickness, and to the full extent of the height to which the moisture was found to extend, the recurrence of dampness being effectually prevented, and the accumulation of moisture being lentirely avoided in the case of new walls provided at the time of their construction with the arrangement described.

The number of air-troughs provided must be in pr0 portion to the dampness of the wall and the amount of saltpeter present. In the case of brick- Walls the troughs are alined with the seams of mortar between the bricks, and in the case of quarry-stone or sandstone walls the troughs are also placed across the joints.

By providing a sufficient number of air-apertures an energetic circulation of air is obtained, this circulation being considerably more powerful than if the troughs merely communicate with the atmosphere at their upper ends. The powerful air-currents combined with the cataphoretic and electro-chemical action dry the walls much more rapidly, effectively and permanently than any arrangement or process hitherto known.

In the case of walls containing saltpeter the troughs may be used for the distribution of suitable preparations adapted to destroy saltpeter, such preparations being for example injected in the form of powder through the air-apertures c.

The plates, trellis-work, grating or the Alike may be of ornamental design suited to the character of the room or building of which the wall forms part, and may be painted after the completion of the structure, so as to form, for example, portions of a continuous frieze or the like. p

To increase the efficiency of the arrangement, and to deflect the moisture which tends to take the place of the moisture removed, the air-troughs are preferably caused to extend to a considerable depth, the base of the Wall being surrounded by coarse stones.

In the case of ground-floor passages and the like it is 105 in some cases necessary to dig up the ground adjacent the inside of the wall, in order to introduce the stones. The air-troughs leading from the lower air-apertures are then caused to terminate in the bed of stones. If a similar arrangement is necessary for the walls of rooms, 110

the outer Wall is also provided with a bed o stones Which is caused to communicate by means oi horizontal ducts with a bed of stones at the base o the inner Wall.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United` States is 1. The combination with a wall, of a construction applied thereto consisting of a trellis of half open sheet metal troughs the open faces of which are applied to the wall and wire work of a different metal wound about said troughs, said metals being respectively electro-positive and electronegative with regard to each other.

2. The combination with a wall, of a construction applied thereto consisting of a trellis of half open sheet metal troughs the open faces of which are applied to the Wall, inlet bosses at the points of intersection of said troughs and wire work of a dilerent metal from the troughs wound about said troughs said metals being respectively electro-positive and electro-negative with regard to each other.

3. The combination with a wall, of a construction applied to the face thereof consisting of a trellis of half open sheet metal troughs the open faces of which are applied to the Wall, said metal troughs having exterior air inlets wire work of a different metal wound about said troughs and a plaster coating covering these parts with the exception of the inlets said metals beingrespectively electro-positive and electro-negative with regard to each other.

4. The combination with a wall, of a construction applied to the face thereof consisting of a trellis of half open sheet metal troughs the open faces of which are applied to the Wall, inlet bosses at the points of intersection of said troughs, Wire work of a different metal wound about said troughs and a plaster coating covering the whole with the exception of the inlet bosses said metals being respectively electro-positive and electro-negative with regard to each other.

5. The combination with a wall' of a construction applied to the face thereof consisting of a trellis of half open sheet metal troughs the open faces of which are applied to the wall, inlet bosses at the points of intersection of said troughs, wire work of a different metal wound about said troughs, a plaster coating covering the Whole with the exception of the inlet bosses and an underground bed of loose stone at the base of the Wall into which the lower troughs project said metals being respectively electro-positive and electro-negative with regard to each other.

In witness whereof I- have signed this specification in the presence of two Witnesses.

MAX LESER.

Witnesses c Um'ssrls J. BYWATER, Leurs F. MUELLuu. 

